Excavating-machine.



PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

APPLIOATION PILE'D AUG. 3, 1900.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Tn! NORRIS PETERS cm, wnsumcrou, n. c,

PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. G. G- PAGE. EXGA-VATING MACHINE.-

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 3, 1906.

7 SHEETS-411E111 2- PATBNTED APR. 2,1907. c. e. PAGE.

EXOAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1906.

7 SHEETS-$11331 3.

1n: Nomus P51 0., zqnmncfou. n. c.

No. 849,337. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

G. G. PAGE.

BXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIOAT AUG.3 1 0 'I SSSSSS -SHEBT 4.

rush ssssssssssssssss u a 115149337. PATENTED Am'z, 1907. I I GI Ga v v BXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Am). 3, 1906.

7 SKEETSBHEET 6.

n4: NORRIS Ps' sis col, WASHING! PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.- G. G. PAGE.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3,1906.

'7 SEEETS-BHEET 6.

m: NORRIS Pars/es co, WASHIVGYON. n. r:

No. 849,331. PATENTBD APR-2, 190v.

. 0. G. PAGE.

EXGAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED we. a, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

WITNESSES:

INVEHTOR f Cam any; W

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

CHARLES C. PAGE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO FREDERICK C. AUSTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXCAVATlNG-NIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed August 3, 1906. Serial No. 329,058.

To all whom it TH/CY/Z/ concern.-

-Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavatingxllachincs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to excavating-machines of the type or class in which an excavating device is operated along a path conforming to the transverse contour of an excavation, such as a trench or ditch, and adapted for excavating in opposite directions in alternation, examples of machines of such type or class being found in patent to Smith, No. 590,119, dated September 14, 1897, and in Reissued Letters Patent of Jacobs, No. 12,441, dated January 30, 1906. In the said Smith patent the excavating device consists of a double plow having its two faces rigidly connected and facing in opposite directions, whereby the device is intended to excavate in the direction in which it is drawn, while in said Jacobs reissue the excavating devices comprise two buckets or scoops, respectively mounted on one and the other of two flexibly-connected trucks, the two scoops being mounted to relatively face in opposite directions. In said two patents the excavating devices are directed along the desired path by a track-guide conforming to the transverse contour of a trench or proposed trench and reciprocated along the track-guide by cables and suitable operating means therefor, the track-guide being vertically adjusted from time to time in accordance with the progress of the work. In other cases it has been proposed to reciprocate a single scoop along a track-guide of such character; but in such machines the scoop cuts or excavates one way only. Means other than track guides conforming to the transverse contour of the ditch have also been proposed, as in patent to lVheaton, No. 590,926, dated September 2S, 1897, in which the scoops cut one Way only, while in other cases a single bucket excavating in one direction only has been guided by means other than by a transverse guide conforming to the transverse contour of the trench, as' illustrated in patent to Trainer, No. 564,727, dated July 28, 1896, in which the scoop is attached to a swinging arm suspended from a truck which is arranged to move on a horizontal guide or track.

In my application filed March 12, 1906, and serially numbered 305,623 I have shown and claimed a single scoop for facing in each of two directions in alternation, the scoop being adapted for cutting in the direction in which it faces and its rcversenient being preferably effected by mounting it upon a truck and turning it about a transverse axis in direction and to an extent to turn it from a position for cutting in one direction into a position for cutting in the opposite direction and to freely discharge its lead while it is turning, the direction in which the scoop is thus turned serving to invert the scoop at a point between said two positions, and thereby dump the scoop while it is being reversed.

Objects of this application are to specifically claim certain features not specifically claimed in my said application and with reference to the latter to particularly cover the mode of operating the reversing device in Fig. 11 of my said application Serial No. 305,623.

Further objects of my invention and improvements embodied in this application are to utilize the weight of the truck or carrier and its tendency to move down an inclined track or path when free to do so as a source of power for effecting the reversal and dumping of the "scoop, shovel, or bucket, as the excavating device may be indi'fl'erently termed; to provide simple means for temporarily locking together the reverser and the reversible scoop; to provide means auxiliary to the reverser for temporarily locking the scoop against rotation and to relieve the reverser and its connections from strain during the operation of digging; to general y simplify the mechanism employed; to provide a construction whereby the arms of the guidetrack may be inclined from their upper end down to the middle transverseportion, which conforms to the bottom of the proposed trench, and thereby render cable transmission easier and to dispense with need for means adapted to permit the truck to be drawn outwardly along a horizontal upper end portion of either arm of the guide-track.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a trenching-machine embodying the principles of my invention, cerin longitudinal section.

tain frame portions being broken away or in section for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, of the truck and scoop and an end portion of the track-guide, parts of the track-guide being Fig. 4 shows the scoop or shovel in section. Fig. 5 shows the truck and scoop in side elevation, the near side portion of the traclnguide being removed for convenience of illustration. Fig. 6 is a section taken transversely through the guide-track, the truck and scoop being shown in end elevation and the reverser being shown partly in section and partly broken away for purposes of illustration. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6. the truck and shifter being in cross-section. ig. 8 is an enlarged detail illustrating one of the latches for looking together the truck and the reverser. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through an end portion of the track-guide on a vertical plane at one side of the scoop and illustrates means for temporarily holding the scoophgainst rotary strain. Fig. 10 illustrates a slight variation in the scoop-holding means of Fig. 9 and comprises the scoop in side elevation and a portion of one of the locking bars or bolts. Fig. 1 1 corresponds with Fig. 1 1 of my said application Serial No. 305,623 and shows the inner face of one side of the upper end portion of the guide-track and also the scoop in eleva tion, the end portion of the track-guide being bent down as to incline outwardly and downwardly. In this view the cables are attached to the reverser, while in other figures in my said application Serial No. 305,623 the cables are attached to the truck ends.

A indicates the scoo or shovel pivotally mounted upon a truck The truck is provided with wheels 1, arranged to traverse a track-guide C, conforming or conformable to the transverse contour of the proposed trench, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the track-guide C, of ordinary construction, is shown raised above the ditch by wellknown adjusting devices which can be operated so as to raise and lower the track-guide in accordance with requirements. It will be seen that when the track-guide is suitably lowered the scoop will traverse and operate along a path conforming to the transverse profile of a trench D, which is understood to have been formed by a succession of operations on the part of the shovel or scoop. I have also illustrated means for reciprocating the excavating device transversely to the trench-line, said means comprising cables E and E, trained over suitable pulleys on the track-guide and the body-frame portions of the machine and connected with suitable Winding-drums 2 and 3, respectively, which said drums can be operated and reversed by any suitable devices The scoop or shovel, as shown, for example, in full lines in Figs. 1 and 5, is in position for cutting to the right, and it is illustrated in dotted lines in position for cutting to the left when drawn from right to left, it being understood the scoop thus shown facing to the right in full lines has been drawn across the trench-line from left to right and has reached the terminal portion of its travel in such direction, whereby it is suitably elevated for dumping its load and for reversement to cause it to face in an opposite direction preparatory to travel from right to left. The single scoop is adapted to scrape or cut and to take in soil when in either of said two posit-ions. As shown, it has two transverse portions 4 and 4* (see Fig. 4) between its opposite sides 5 5, the outer end of each of its two portions 4 and 4 being a cutting or scraping edge. The outer edges of its side portions 5 5 are also formed or provided with cutting edges, particularly at points adjacent to the scoop portions 4 and 4 it being understood that these cutting edges may be integral with the side 5 or that they can be formed by blades secured thereto. When the scoop is in position for cutting toward the right, its transverse portion 4 forms its bottom, and its transverse portion 4 forms its back, and when it is turned into position for cutting to the left its portion 4 forms its back, while 9 its portion 4 forms its bottom. It will be seen that a one-fourth revolution of the scoop toward the left about a transverse axis 6, Fig. 4, will reverse the scoop from one to the other of said two positions. As a matter of further improvement, however, my invention contemplates giving the scoop three fourths or substantially three-fourths of an entire revolution in a direction to bring it from one to the other of said two positions and at the same time cause it while thus operating to turn upside down, and thereby discharge its load. This will obviously take place if the scoop in Fig. 4 is given three fourths of a revolution to the right about the axis 6. When the scoop is traveling one way, it faces and cuts in the direction in which it travels, and after it has been reversed in position it faces and travels and cuts in an opposite direction.

As a means for reversing the scoop at'each terminal portion of its bodily movement or travel across the line of trench and as a means for causing the reversing action of the scoop to also dump its contents the scoop is provided with laterally-projecting pivots or journals 7, Fig. 7, rigid with its sides 5 and mounted in suitable bearings in or on the longitudinal sides 8 of the truck B, the axis passing through these journals being indicated at the points 6 in Fig. 4. The scoop thus mounted upon the truck could be swung or turned from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to the position indicated by dotted lines in said figure by giving the scoop onequarter of -a revolution toward the left; but as a matter of further improvement this re versement of the scoop is attained by giving it three-fourths of a revolution about said axis in a direction whereby the scoop in turning will discharge its load, it being understood, however, that after the scoop has been reversed, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and has been drawn back along the guide-track to an extent to reach the terminal portion of its travel up the end portion of the guide-track shown at the left the reversement of the scoop will then involve three-quarters of a revolution about its pivotal axis in direction the reverse of the direction in which it was turned to bring it from the position shown in full lines to the position indicated in dotted lines.

The reversement and dumping of the scoop occurs at each terminal portion of its reciprocative travel across the line of trench, the points of such reversement being above the ground -line at opposite sides of the trench, so that with a single scoop spoil-piles can be formed, respectively, at opposite sides of the excavation. Various mechanical means can be employed for reversing and dumping the scoop at each terminal portion of its line of travel. In the first eight figures of the drawings the truck is provided with a reverser F, consisting of a rack having a sliding connection with the truck and construct ed as a frame having each of its longitudinal side .bars 9 provided with a line of rackteeth 10, Figs. 5 and 7. These rack-teeth engage pinions 11, which are fixed upon the outer end portions of the pivots or journals 7 on sides 5 of the scoop, and by this arrangement relative movement between the reverser and the truck will cause the scoop to turn about an axis common to its said ournals. The propelling-cables E and E are respectively attached to opposite ends of the reverser F, and the truck is provided with a locking device for locking together the reverser and the truck during the periods when looking connection between such two members is required. With reference to the locking means illustrated the truck is provided with two transversely-arranged rockshafts G and G (see particularly Fig. 3,) respectively, at opposite ends thereof, the rock-shaft G being provided with latches 12 12 and the rockshaft G being provided with latches .13 13. One end of the reverser F is provided with catch-recesses 1.4 14 for the latches 12, and the opposite end of such reverser is provided with similar catch-recesses 15 15 for the latches 13. The transverse end bars 16 of the reverser-frame, which are thus provided with the keepers or catch-recesses 14 and 15, are also provided with bevel portions forming inclined faces 17, sloping downwardly from the catch-recesses toward the scoop, these inclines being provided for raising the latches preparatory to the engagement of the latter in the catch-recesses, as hereinafter more fully explained.

As a means for operating the rock-shafts G and G, so as to disengage the latches from the keepers or catchrecesses, the rock-shafts are provided with arms and the track-guide is provided with lateral projections for engaging said arms at proper times. The rock shaft G is provided at its ends with crankarms 18 1S, and the track-guide is provided with the inwardly-extending projections 19, which engage the crank-arms 18 when the truck has reached the point for operating the latches 12, so as to permit the truck to run back by gravity while the reverser is being held by the cable E. The rock-shaft G is likewise provided with crank-arms 20 for engaging stops or projections 21 like the stops 19, but arranged at the opposite end portion of the track-guide, these stops or projections 21 being illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the truck and reverser are locked together by latches 12, the winding-drums will operate so that the cable E will wind upon one drum and the cable E will correspondingly pay out, thereby permitting the cable E to draw the truck from left to right across the trench-line and up the inclined portion 22 of the track-guide. Then the truck has been thus drawn up the inclined portion 22 of the track-guide to a suitable extent, the crank-arms 18 on the rock-shaft G will encounter the stops 19, whereby further advancement of the truck will cause the crank-arms 18 to be swung back by reason of their engagement with the stops 19, thereby operating the rock-shaft G in direction to raise the latches 1.2 from their ongagement with the reverser, and thereupon an attendant controlling the engine and winding drums should arrest the action of the latter. At this juncture the truck being unlocked is free to run down the inclined portion of the track, and it will so operate, the reverser being, however, held stationary by the cable E. During this back movement of the truck, the engagement of pinions 11 on the scoop with the rack-teeth of the re verser will cause the scoop to make a partial revolution about a transverse horizontal axis and in direction to dump the load and bring the scoop from the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 5 to the position illustrated by dotted lines in said figures. This back travel of the truck independently of the reverser is desirably limited to an extent to permit the scoop to make threefourths of a revolution, so that when the scoop has been thus inverted and reversed it will be ready for excavating in a direction opposite to the direction in which it previously faced and operated. The aforesaid back movement of the truck independently of the reverser can be limited by suitable IOC stops or bumpers. As shown in Fig. 3, the end portion of the truck at the left is provided with spring-bumpers H, and the end of the shifter at the left is provided with stop devices 23 23, so that when the truck has moved to the terminal portion of its desired back movement independently of the reverser, the spring-bumper H will engage the stops 23, and thereby arrest such independent movement of the truck and also take up shock. WVhen the truck has thus moved back from its position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to the terminal portion of its said independent movement, its latches 13 will engage the inclines 17, which are associated with the keepers or catch-recesses 15 of the reverser, and as the truck is thus completing its independent back movement the latches 13 will ride up the said inclines 17 until such latches are over the catchrecesses 15, and thereupon they will drop by gravity into the catch-recesses. By this arrangement the truck and reverser are again locked together, and thereupon the attendant can start up the winding-drums so as to now wind up the cable 13 and unwind the cable E, and thereby cause the truck to move down the inclined arm portion 22 of the track-guide, and thence move along the middle horizontal portion 24 of the trackguide, and thence move up the inclined arm portion 25 of the track-guide (shown at the left in Fig. 1) until the arms 20 on rockshaft G engage and are operated by the stops 21, so as to again release the truck, and when the truck has been thus released the attendant will again arrest the windingdrums and the truck will by gravity descend the incline until spring-bumpers H on the right-hand end of the truck suitably engage stops 26, Fig. 3, on the reverser, and latches 12 engage in the catch-recesses 14. After the truck and the shifter are thus again locked together the attendant will again operate the drums in direction towind up the cable E and correspondingly pay out the cable E, so as to cause the truck to again traverse the truck-guide.

Broadly considered, the track and the reverser have a relatively movable connection whereby a movement of one member independently of the other member reverses and also dumps the scoop. It will also be seen that while the truck is being drawn along the track the shifter and truck are unlocked the one from the other and that the reversement of the scoop from a position facing to excavate in one direction to a position facing to excavate in an opposite direction is caused by relative shift or movement between the truck and the reverser. The construction hereinbefore described also involves the feature of reversing the scoop by power obtained by the descent of the truck by gravity,

whereby the reversing actions are automatic.

When the relative movement between the truck and the reverser has been sufficient to reverse the scoop and these two members are again locked together, the power-transmitting connection, such as rack-teeth on one member and pinions on the other member, or the mechanical equivalent thereof, such as sprockets on one member and sprocketchains on the other member, will assist in holding the scoop against rotation while the truck and reverser are locked together, as hereinbefore described; but in order to fur ther oppose strain incurred while excavating I provide further locking means for holding the scoop against tendency to turn about a transverse axis while excavating. Examples of such locking means are afforded by Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 9 I indicates a sliding bar or bolt supported and guided on one side portion of the truck-frame and having a rack portion 27, which is engaged by a pinion or segment-pinion K, fixed on the rock-shaft G. The scoop is also provided with a stop 28, which engages the bolt I at desired times, whereby at such times the scoop is more firmly held against rotation in a direction for both reversing and dumping. In Fig. 9 the scoop is thus held by the locking-bolt I, as shown in full lines, it being understood that the truck has traveled from left to right and has nearly reached the end of its travel in such direction, whereby comparatively slight further advancement in said direction to complete its travel toward the right will cause the bodily forward movement of arm 18 to engage one of the stops 19 on the track, and thereby cause said arm to turn rockshaft G in a direction to raise latch 12 and also turn the gear or pinion K in a direction to draw bolt or latch away from and clear of the path or stop 28 on the scoop. When this action of the rock-shaft thus raises its latch-arm 12 from catch-recess 14 in the reverser G, the truck can immediately run back and down the track incline independently of the reverser, which is held by cable E against moving with the truck, and the scoop will turn in direction for reversing its cutting position and for dumping its contents. After the engaging end of the latch 12 has cleared the reverser the latch can be restored to its first position by gravity or by a spring 29, Fig. 3. hen the truck has properly ascended the upwardly-inclined end portion 25 of the track-guide, the latches 13 are disengaged from the reverser F and the truck will run down the track-guide until its spring bumpers H engage the stops 26 and its latches 12 slide up the inclines 17 at the right-hand end of the reverser and drop into the catch-recesses 1 1. As the catch or locking devices 12 ride up the incline 17 on the right hand of the reverser F the rock-shaft G is turned so as to shift the bolt at the right hand of the reverser clear of the stop 28 on the scoop; but when the catch devices 12 drop into the catch-recesses 14 the rockshaft G is turned in a direction to shift the bolts at the right-hand end of the reverser into position for locking the scoop. Each end portion of the truck is understood to be provided with two pairs of such locking devices, respectively, on opposite ends thereof.

I11 Fig. 10 the stop 28 is practically provided with gaps or notches 28 and 28 for the end of the bolt I, whereby the scoop can be temporarily held against tendency to turn in either direction. Otherwise the locking device of Fig. 9 is understood to be present in Fig. 10. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the reverser and truck are locked together and the truck is traversing the track for the purpose of excavating with the scoop the latter is locked by one or the otherof two bolts or two pair of bolts, respectively, on each end portion of the truck. \Vhen the truck is completing its terminal travel to the right, the act of unlocking the truck from the reverser also operates the bolt or bolts on the right hand of the truck so as to permit the limited back travel of the truck independently of the reverser to turn the scoop about its transverse axis. When the truck reaches the terminal portion of this independent back movement, the bolt or bolts on its lefthand end are drawn clear of the path of the stop or stops on the scoop by reason of the latches on the left-hand end of the truck ric ing up inclines 17 at such end, Fig. 3 but as soon as such latches clear the highest points of these inclines they will drop into the catch-recesses 15, and thereby cause the bolts to move toward the stop on the scoop, and thereby lock the latter. This automatic locking action therefore occurs at each end portion of the track.

It will be observed that when latch 12 is rising from catch-recess 14 the bolt is drawn out of the path of the stop 28 and that the period of this movement is to be timed so that before the latch drops so as to force the bolt back toward the circular path described by stop 28 the back independent movement of the truck will have been sufficient to turn the scoop about a transverse axis to an extent to cause stop 28 to clear the path of the bolt I. After the latch has cleared the catchrecess 14: the latch will drop to an extent to throw bolt I to the left and. place its free end in position for engaging incline 17 on the subsequent return trip of the truck and scoop; but the locking members should be so timed that during the terminal portion of such return trip the latch will engage and ride up incline 17 in time to draw bolt I to the right,

and hence when the latch then drops into catch-recess 14 it will cause bolt I to move to the right into position under the stop 28, as in Fig. 5), or into position to engage a notch or gap in the stop on the scoop, as in Fig. 10. The locking means understood to be on the left-hand end of the truck, being merely a duplicate in construction of the locking device shown in Fig. 9, need not be illustrated.

In Fig. 11 the upwardly and outwardly inclined track arm or portion 22 (shown in Fig. 1) is extended and bent downwardly, so as to form the reversely-inclined track portion 22, the object of this iigure being to further illustrate the principle of utilizing the descent of the truck on an incline or path as a means for reversing the scoop. This figure also shows a chain and sprocket as a power-transmitting connection between the reverser and the scoop, it being understood that a like chain and sprocket can also be used at the opposite side of the scoop for a like purpose. As shown, the sprocket-chain 30 is attached to the reverser F, which is understood to otherwise correspond in general structure with the frame-shaped reverser shown in preceding figures. The sprocket-chain engages a sprocket 31 on the scoop-journal 7, and the cables are tied to opposite ends of the reverser. WVhen therefore the cables are not in motion and the reverser is unlocked from the truck B, the latter will run down the incline until arrested by bumper 31 on the guide-track, and during such movement on the part of the truck the scoop will be turned about a transverse axis so as to dump and then face in an opposite direction. Locking devices are not shown in Fig. 11, it being understood that locking means similar to those hereinbeforc employed or other desired forms of locking means can be employed.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1 In an excavatingmachine, a truck or carrier provided with a scoop pivotally supported thereon for revcrsement from a position for cutting in one direction to'a position for cutting in an opposite direction; an inclined track portion traversed by the truck or carrier and reversing means operated by movement of the truck or carrier downwardly along the incline and timed for reversing the scoop from one to the other of its cutting po sitions.

2. In an excavating-machine, a truck or carrier provided with a scoop pivotally supported thereon for reversement from a position for cutting in one direction to a position for cutting in an opposite direction; an inclined track portion traversed by the truck or carrier; and reversing means operated by movement of the truck or carrier downwardly along the incline and adapted for reversing the scoop in direction to dump the same and bring it from a position for cutting in ne direction to a position for cutting in an opposite direction.

3. In an excavating-machine, a truck or carrier provided with a scoop supported thereon to turn about a transverse aXis in direction for dumping; an inclined track por tion traversed by the truck or carrier, and means for dumping the scoop operated by the action of the truck or carrier moving downwardly along the inclined track portion.

4. In an excavating-machine, a scoop and means for bodily moving the scoop transversely to and in conformity with the contour of a proposed ditch, said scoop being adapted for rotative action about a transverse axis and adapted for facing in opposite directions in alternation and for cutting in each of these two positions, either of said positions being attained by partial rotation of the scoop; means for moving the support for the scoop transversely to the ditch-line means for temporarily locking the scoop against rotation; means for releasing the scoop-locking means, and means for turning the scoop from a loading to a dumping position-and actuated for such purpose by gravity when the scoopsupport has been elevated and temporarily released to permit it to move downwardly.

5. In an excavating-machine, a track conformable to the transverse outline of a proposed ditch and having end portions adapted to extend up and over the banks at opposite sides of the ditch; a truck for traversing the track; a reversible scoop pivotally supported upon the truck and adapted to turn from a position for facing to cut in one direction to a position for facing to cut in an opposite direc tion; a reversing device supported upon the truck for reversing the scoop; locking means for temporarily locking together the revers- I ing device and the truck; means on the track for actuating the locking device so as to release the truck from the reversing device when the truck is on an inclined portion of the'track, whereby when the truck is released it will move downwardly along the track and thereby cause the reversal of the scoop.

6. In an excavating-machine, a truck; a track for the truck having an inclined portion; a reversible scoop such as set forth pivotally supported on the truck; a reversing device supported on the truck and connected with the scoop by power-transmitting connection; rock-shafts on opposite ends of the truck; latches on said rock-shafts; arms on said rockshafts; stops for engaging said arms in alternation and operating-cables attached to opposite ends of the reversing device, said reversing device being provided with catch means for engaging with the latches, and with inclines for raising the latches and directing them to the catch means.

7. In an excavating-machine, a truck or carrier, and a track-guide therefor; a scoop supported to turn about a transverse axis on the truck or carrier; a bolt or latch device for engaging and holding the scoop against rotation when the scoop is in position for excavating, said bolt or catch device being supported upon the truck or carrier; means for withdrawing the catch or bolt from its engagement with the scoop so as to permit the latter to turn in direction for dumping its contents, and means for subsequently projecting said latch or catch into position for again engaging the scoop.

8. In an excavating-machine, a track conformable to the transverse contour of a proposed ditch; a truck supported to traverse the track; a scoop pivotally supported upon the truck and having upon each side a stop device; a slide-bolt supported by the truck and arranged for engaging and releasing the stop device on the scoop in alternation; means for operating the bolt, and means for turning the scoop in direction for dumping when the bolt is disengaged from the stop device on the scoop.

9. In an excavating-machine, a track; a truck; a scoop pivotally supported on the truck; means "for reversing the cutting position of the scoop; catch or stop devices on the scoop; slide-bolts or latches for alternately engaging one or the other of the stop devices according to the position of the scoop; and means for automatically operating the bolts or latches.

10. In an excavating-machine, a track; a truck; a scoop supported for rotary movement upon the truck; a latch device supported upon the truck and arranged and adapted for engaging and releasing the scoop; a device for operating the latch; and an arm or stop on the track structure for engaging and actuating said latch-operating device at a time for releasing and dumping the scoop.

11. In an excavating-machine, a truck; a scoop pivotally supported upon the truck and having a side stop or catch device; a slidebolt arranged for engaging and releasing said stop or catch device; a rack and pinion for operating the bolt; an arm for operating the rack and pinion, and a stop or arm supported independent of the truck for engaging said arm at a time for releasing the scoop.

12. In an excavating-machine, a track; a truck; a reversible scoop pivotally supported on the truck; a scoop-reversing device carried by the truck; a locking device on the truck for engaging the scoop-reversing device and locking together the said reversing device and the truck; a locking device for engaging and holding the scoopagainst rotation; and transmitting connection between the locking device for engaging the scoop and the locking device for engaging the scoop-reversing device, and for adapting the movement of the latter in releasing the scoop-reversing device to cause such power-transmitting connection to actuate the scooplocking device in direction for releasing the scoop.

13. In an excavating-machine, a truck; a scoop pivotally supported on the truck, a device for locking and releasing the scoop comprising a slide-bolt for engaging and releasing the scoop; a rack and pinion for operating the bolt, the pinion being supported for oscillatory movement, whereby the bolt can be moved in opposite directions in alternation; an arm or tappet for operating the pinion; a track which is traversed by the truck; a stop supported independently of the truck and arranged to be engaged by the arm or tappet during the movement of the truck and to thereby cause the arm or tappet to move and actuate the pinion in the direction to withdraw the bolt from engagement with the scoop and therebypermit the latter to dump.

14. In an excavating-machine, a track conformable to the transverse contour of a proposed ditch; a truck for traversing the track; cables for drawing the truck alternately in opposite directions; a reversible scoop such as set forth pivotally mounted on the truck; means for temporarily connecting the scoop and truck with one and the other of said cables in alternation; means for disconnecting the scoop and truck from either one of the cables which is drawing the scoop up an inclined portion of the track thereby permitting the truck to move downwardly along the track; and means for reversing the scoop during said down movement of the truck, said reversing means being actuated by such movement of the truck relatively to and independent of the said cable.

15. In an excavating-111achine, a truck or carrier; a scoop supported on the truck or carrier to turn about a transverse axis in direction for dumping its contents; a track; means for moving the truck or carrier along the track in opposite directions in alternation; bolts or latches supported upon the truck or carrier and arranged for reciprocative movement respectively at opposite sides of the scoop; catch devices for the bolts or latches on opposite sides of the scoop; means for operating the bolts or latches and stop means on the track for causing such bolt or latch actuating means to operate in direction for unlocking the scoop.

CHARLES G. PAGE.

Vitnesses:

OTTILIE O. FREIBERG I'IILMA Momc. 

